FIFA lets Iran off the hook

Iran will be allowed to defend their Asian Games title after world governing body FIFA provisionally lifted a ban on their participation in international competition.

The country's football federation was suspended earlier this month by the Zurich-based body due to political interference in the running of the sport in the Islamic republic following Iran's elimination from the World Cup finals in Germany.

But after a round of negotiations involving FIFA, Iranian officials and Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam, the back-to-back Asian Games gold medallists will be allowed to compete in Doha next week.

"The emergency committee of FIFA suspended the Iranian Football Federation for political interference, but we have agreed with Iran that there is a route to be respected with different points to install in the meantime a provisional committee," said FIFA President Sepp Blatter.